Sealing tool



0d. 1, 1940. ADAMSQN 2,216,579

SEALING TOOL Filed May 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. ANDREWE ADAMSON A TTORNEX Oct. 1, 1940. A.-'E. ADAMSON SEALING TOOL Filed May 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AI\ZDREWEADAM50N BY 1 v ATTORNEYJ.

Oct. 1, 1940. A. E. AbAMsoN SEALING TOOL Filed May 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ANDREWEADAMSON ATTORNEY.

Oct. 1, 1940. A. E. ADAMSON SEALING TOOL Filed May 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. AMBEW EADAI ISON A TTORNEYI i gether.

Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES Bank of Youngstown, Youngstown, Ohio, tional banking association, as trustee SEALING TOOL Andrew E. Adamson, Warren, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Mahoning National a na- Applicaticn May 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,132

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a sealing tool and more particularly to a device for forming interlocking deformations in overlapped portions of steel bands used for binding various objects to- According to the usual practice, the metal band or strap is tightened about the object or objects to be found by a suitable tensioning tool and to the overlapped portion of the tensioned strap or band an encompassing sleeve is placed. The sealing tool is then applied to the sleeve and effects the deformations to lock together the sleeve and the overlapped portions of the band or strap.

Since the sealing tool is operated manually and a great force is required to effect the seal, the hand grip portions of the tool must move through a relatively large traverse during the sealing operation. The force is best applied through pivotally mounted levers movable in a single plane, the outer grip portions moving towards each other. I-Ieretofore the practice has been to place both the handle members and the deforming jaws of the tool in the same plane, the path of movement of the members and jaws being transverse to the direction of the band or strap on which the seal is being made. In certain situations space conditions may be such that sufficient space for movement of the handles in the transverse plane is lacking. The difiiculty of effecting a satisfactory seal under these conditions is obvious. Since sufficient space for proper manipulation of the tool is seldom lacking in a plane including the direction of the strap or band I have devised a sealing tool having handle grip portions movable in a plane transverse tothe plane of movement of the seal forming jaws.

Accordingly an object of this invention is to provide a tool for the purpose described and operable in the manner aforesaid which is simple in construction, rugged and durable, and which will eifect the required deformations with a minimum of force exerted by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a tool of the kind described a construction wherein the relatively small dimensioned seal forming jaws, their immediate actuating elements, dies, and immediate supports are extended from the larger dimensioned elements of the tool whereby seals may be made in ordinarily inaccessible places.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved deforming die and supporting means therefor whereby the construction of the tool is simplified and less force is required for its operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting the anvil against which the sleeve is forced by the movable jaws and for mounting the die in relation to the anvil and jaws. I Y

A still further object of the invention'is to provide improved means for moving the die outward as the jaws compress the sleeve to reduce the force required to make the seal and to enable the tool to be more rugged and compactly built.

These and other objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the following detailed specification.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views, respectively, of a tool constructed in accordance with my invention, the extended portions of the operating handles being broken away;

Figure 3 is a crosssectional View of the tool of Figures 1 and 2 taken along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of a portion of a tool utilizing a modified means to support the die;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the tool of Figure 4, taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional View of a similar tool in which the die and jaws are provided with coacting elements to move the die outward as the jaws close about the sleeve or overlapped strap portions;

Figure 7 shows the die and jaws of Figure 6 in retracted position;

Figure 8 is a top view of Figure 7 but showing the complete assembly; and

Figures 9 and 10 are side and top views, respectively, with parts broken away, of a modified form of tool in which the strap engaging elements are extended from larger dimensioned elements of the tool whereby a seal may be made in ordinarily inaccessible places.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the tool consists generally of a frame I l, a pair of deforming jaws 2|, a pair of manually operable levers or handle 40 and other elements to be specifically described.

Frame II consists of a pair of mating identical sections l2 each having a flat side plate 13 and a pair of spaced parallel ears [4 extending at right angles from said plate adjacent one end thereof. The plates l3 are each provided with a centrally disposed window I1 and a vertically extending groove I5 on their inner faces.

A pair of jaws 2| are pivotally mounted between the plates l3 on the hinge bolts 22 and are provided with upwardly and outwardly extending portions having bifurcated ends 23. A portion of the center part of the jaws about the hinge bolts 22 is cut away at 24 to receive the ends of the one piece die 25 which extends between the bolts 22 and is backed by the anvil 26. As shown more clearly in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the anvil 26 is provided with a rib 2! on each of its opposing flat surfaces to fit within the grooves 5 of the side plates I3. A bolt 28 passing through the plates I3 and the anvil 26, rigidly secures the anvil in position, the anvil also serving as a spacing block to hold the plates 3 in proper spaced relation. The above described construction results in an exceedingly rigid and durable means to oppose the great force exerted by the jaws 2|. The outer end of the anvil 26 is slotted at 29 to receive the die 25.

A crosshead 30 having forked arms 3| between the plates l3 and right angularly disposed forked arms 32 extending outwardly through the windows I1 is slidably mounted between the plates 3. A pair of toggle links 33 pivoted to the arms 3| by hinge pins 34 are connected to the bifurcated ends 23 of the jaws 2| by hinge pins 35.

The operating handles 49 for the tool are in the form of bell-crank levers and are pivotally mounted on the hinge bolts 4| passing through the outer extremity of the parallel ears M of the frame sections l2. The short legs of the levers 40 extend inwardly from the hinge bolts 4| and are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the toggle links 43 by means of hinge pins 44. The links 43 are in turn pivotally connected with the arms 32 by the hinge pins 45.

Sections I2 of the frame II are rigidly held together by the bolt 41 passing through their upper ends and by the bolts 22 and 28. Inward movement of the ends of the handles 40 results in downward movement of the cross-head 30 and inward movement of the jaws 2|. In operation the overlapped strap ends having thereon the encircling sleeve is grasped along their side edges by the lips 43 of the opened jaws and as the jaws close in the sleeve is forced against the anvil 26 to tightly clamp the same, the die 25 causing a deformation or crimp to be made in opposed side edges of the sleeve and strap, the recesses 24 of the jaws 2| receiving the displaced metal. The anvil, die and jaw construction defined is rugged and durable and enables the sealing tool to be built with fewer parts. The die is simply constructed and may be easily replaced when worn or broken. By supporting the die by the jaw bolts 22 and the anvil 26, it is effectively restrained from canting or tilting movement and consequently a better seal may be made without increasing the force applied to the handles.

As obvious from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2, the use of the crosshead 30 and the two pairs of toggle links enables the tool to be constructed in such manner that the operating handles are movable in a plane normal to the plane of movement of the jaws 2|. This feature renders the tool particularly useful in situations where space lateral to the reach of the strap or band is limited as where a seal is to be made on a band horizontally encompassing a low object lying on a floor.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modified form of die and securing means therefor. The jaws 5| which correspond generally to the jaws 2| of Figures 1, 2 and 3 are bifurcated at their operating ends 52 to receive the ends of the die member 54 which ends encircle the jaw bolts 22. This construction enhances the solidarity of the die member in that the ends thereof are rigidly held against movement in any direction. As in the first form, the anvil 26 is slotted at 29 to accommodate the center portion of the die member.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a further modified tool in which the jaw members 60, swingably mounted on the jaw bolts 22, are similar to the jaw members 5| of Figures 4 and 5 in that the the sealing ends 6| thereof are bifurcated, but the bottom surfaces 65 of the bifurcated ends extend obliquely to the longitudinal axes of the members. The fiat unitary die member 6'! is provided with elongated apertures 68 to receive the jaw bolts 22 to enable the die member to move outward relative to the anvil 26 and the jaw members 69. The ends of the die member have upwardly and outwardly extending projections with rounded edges 69 adapted to be engaged by surface 65 of the member 60 as the sealing jaws 6| move inward. Continued outward movement of the surfaces 65 results in outward movement of the die 6'! forcing the surfaces 19 of the die into the side edges of the assembled overlapped strap ends and sleeve to form the interlocking deformations necessary to effect the seal.

The cam relation between surfaces 65 of the member 63 and the curved surfaces 69 of the die member 6? is such that the leverage effect is greatest at the point of initial movement of the die member, thus resulting in a more even distribution of the effort required to make the seal, the initial effort necessary to start the seal forming or to break being usually very great.

A sealing tool generally similar to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3 is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. By the use of an elongated crosshead 94-96'|T and modification of the frame structure, the elements which would normally be positioned adjacent the strap or band on which the seal is to be made and which require little space for their operation are extended from the handle members and levers which require a large space for their operation. As in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the handles may move in a plane normal to the plane of movement of the sealing jaws.

Describing the tool of Figures 9 and in detail, a block member 1| having spaced parallel wing projections 12 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 80 to receive the reciprocating member 96 constituting a portion of the crosshead mentioned above. A pair of side plates 82 are rigidly fastened to the block H by the bolts 83 and pivotally support the jaws 84 between their outer ends, the jaws 84 being mounted on the jaw bolts 85. The jaws 84 are provided with extended lip portions 98 to engage the under side of the strap ends and sleeve and carry the metal deforming dies 87 in shouldered bores, the screws 88 looking the dies in position. A pressure block 86 having cylindrical surfaces 9! to fit against corresponding cylindrical surfaces of the jaws is positioned between the jaws and supported thereby. The cylindrical surfaces of the jaws 84 are concentric with the centers of the bolts 35 and therefore the block 86 is not moved by rotation of the jaws.

Slidable between the side plates 82 and connected with the member 96 is the connecting element 94 having spaced parallel flanges I00 between which are pivotally secured the inner ends of the toggle links 92 by means of the pins 95. The outer ends of the links 92 are connected to the bifurcated ends of arms 90 of the jaws 84 by the pins 9|. The manually operated handles are in the form of bell-crank levers and are pivotally mounted on the pins I3 extending through the outer ends of the wings 12. The short legs 14 of the levers 40 are pivotally connected with the outer ends of the toggle links 15 through the pins 16, the other ends of the links 15 being connected through pins 16 with an element 11 which in turn is secured to the end.

of member 96.

Outward movement of the levers 40 results in movement to the right of the crosshead 94- 96--'|1, as viewed in the drawings, and outward movement of the jaws 84. The construction enables the plane of the levers to be normal to the plane of the jaws and enables the strap engaging elements to be inserted in small spaces which would bar the use of conventional tools.

It should be obvious that the die and anvil arrangements of the first described figures may be applied with equal facility to the tool of Figures 9 and 10.

As many changes may be made in the specific embodiments of my invention as herein disclosed without departing from my invention, the described embodiments should be considered as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a sealing tool, the combination of a pair of spaced parallel frame members, an anvil positioned and secured between said members, a pair of bifurcated jaws pivotally mounted between said members on hinge pins spanning said members, a metal deforming die member comprising a fiat piece of metal, spaced elongated apertures in said die member, the ends of said die member lying within the slots of said bifurcated jaws with said hinge pins passing through said apertures, a slot in said anvil to receive a portion of said die member, means to 5 operate said jaws, and means connected with said jaws and engaging said die member to move said die member outwardly as said jaws are moved inwardly.

2. In a sealing tool, the combination of a pair 10 of spaced parallel frame members, an anvil positioned between said members, a slot in said anvil, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted between said members with said anvil therebetween, a portion of said jaws overlying said anvil when 15 in closed position, a die member extending between said jaws, a portion of said die member lying within said slot, and means connected with said jaws and engaging said die member to move said die member outward as said jaws are moved to closed position.

3. In a sealing tool, the combination of a pair of spaced parallel frame members, a pair of arms having bifurcated jaws pivotally mounted between said members and hinge pins spanning 25 the members, a metal deforming die member comprising a flat piece of metal having its ends positioned between the bifurcations of said jaws, elongated apertures in said ends receiving said hinge pins, inclined surfaces on said arms at the 30.

bases of the bifurcations, projections having curved outer surfaces on said die member adapted to be engaged by said inclined surfaces to move said die member outwardly as said jaws are moved to closed position. 35

ANDREW E. ADAMSON. 

